When I started 365 Project 4+ years ago, I immediately fell in love with bird photography. I didn't know the names of birds or what their habits were, but I knew I loved watching, listening, and capturing their daily routines. Now, I can identify birds by their song, figure out if a nest is nearby by watching a few flybys, and I know when a cat is in the backyard without seeing one--I know birds. I'm the local crazy bird lady.
About two years ago, my zoom lens broke and only worked in manual mode--imperfectly at best, so my moving nature work has been pretty much gone from my photography collection.
This morning, as I sat out on my back patio drinking coffee and catching up on some news before heading to work, I heard a young fledgling in the trees. For the first time, I saw adult Robins feeding their "baby" now that it had made its way to a tree (it was pretty well-developed). I sat back and enjoyed witnessing this parent-child moment in the bird world.
And then I got the itch to grab my camera, broken lens, and see what I could get. I stood upstairs and tried to focus on this tiny thing in the foliage knowing it was NEVER going to work. My arms ached from that old familiar weight of the camera and lens, and my breathing was all off--birders have to have patience and be "ready" for when the birds interact (we do not have feeders by the way--my backyard is all natural food--so they are more skittish where I am). Anyway, I have lost that ability to capture birds like I used to. It was great watching, though.
So I decided to return to my coffee, with camera in tow, JUST IN CASE I could get something fun or interesting. It's been so long.
And then Phoebe (I think) came along. Perched on the fence. Then dropped back down. Then back up (just in time for me to ready my aim again--steady (NOT)), and she had this awesome insect, tossed it, twirled it, looked right at me in that staredown way they have sometimes, and I got this pretty clear shot out of 30 rapid fires. I did have the wisdom to have high shutter and AI focus on. JUST IN CASE. No, it's not like I used to do, with better focus, etc., but I loved it.
If there is a heaven, mine is filled with birds. Hotdog!
I like to think this was the same Phoebe who has visited my yard so many times. :)
http://365project.org/darylo/365/2014-12-15
Superior image Great light and detail Spectacular to catch it with mouth open and food in beak!